Before all else, it’s important to note that South County, RI, isn’t the destination for you if you’re looking for a ski holiday. The entire state of Rhode Island doesn’t have a single traditional ski resort, so you shouldn’t plan on hitting the slopes too often while vacationing here.
However, if you feel like spending a day or two enjoying the snow while in this region, you will have some options in the surrounding area. These ski sites allow you to break your winter vacation up a little bit and spend your time doing different things.
One of the ski spots we’ll look at is right in South County, while the others are about an hour away. Here’s a look at your options if you plan to ski while vacationing in coastal Rhode Island this winter.
Yawgoo Valley
Rhode Island doesn’t have a full ski resort, but a small hill in Exeter called Yawgoo Valley makes for a fun and exciting place to spend a day. It’s the state’s only ski park and is typically operational between early December and late March, giving you plenty of time to check it out.
Yawgoo Valley has 36 acres of skiable terrain, two chair lifts, two rope tows, and six different courses to explore. There are easy, difficult, and advanced runs taking you through a scenic environment and a tube park if you aren’t into skiing but still want to visit.
The park has snow-making capabilities, extending its operating season, and night skiing is open on all trails throughout the winter. You can even rent your equipment on-site, so you don’t have to pack your gear with you.
While you’ll never mistake Yawgoo Valley for the Swiss Alps, it’s a fun location with enough challenging runs to keep experienced skiers interested, making it the ideal place to get a few runs in during your vacation.
Powder Ridge
If you book a vacation rental in Westerly or Charlestown, you will be close to the Connecticut border. Connecticut has far more skiing options, including Powder Ridge in the town of Middlefield.
The Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort is about an hour from Westerly. It features three full lifts to the top of the mountain, plus two tubing lifts and a mini lift for kids. You’ll find easy, difficult, and advanced runs throughout the resort and a terrain park if you want to take some jumps or check out the half pipe.
Powder Ridge offers ski and snowboard rentals, so you don’t have to bring your gear on the journey. There’s also a restaurant and a tavern, making it easy to buy lunch and dinner on-site before returning to your vacation rental in the evening.
Mount Southington
About 16 miles from Powder Ridge is Mount Southington. It offers a similar experience to Powder Ridge, with seven lifts and 14 trails to explore. There are easy, difficult, and advanced runs, but this park also has a beginner’s area. You’ll find a terrain park and a children’s learning area, too.
Don’t worry if you don’t have your gear; you can rent everything you need on-site. Mount Southington also has multiple dining options and hosts special events around the holidays. There’s night skiing, too, if you’re willing to stay late before driving back to your vacation rental.
It takes about an hour and 20 minutes to reach Mount Southington from Westerly, but it’s worth the drive if you want to experience one of this region’s top ski destinations on your next South County vacation.
Skiing is Possible Near South County
At one time, there was another ski hill in South County. Between 1965 and 1980, Pine Top Ski Area in West Greenwich gave Rhode Island visitors and locals a spot to ski. However, a few years with little snow made the business unviable, and skiing never returned to the top of Escoheag Hill.
However, skiing is still possible while vacationing in South County because of these nearby hills and resorts. Pack some warm clothes and a ski jacket if you visit in the winter because you can head to one of these venues on a whim and spend your day on the slopes in some of the country’s most beautiful locations.